Introduction: At the 2018 Mobile World Congress, where major tech giants showcased their latest innovations with towering booths, one startup made a quiet but impactful presence. Otter.ai, a new AI-powered voice transcription app, was quietly gaining attention. Developed by a small team of former Google engineers, the app is now available on both iOS and Android platforms.
Amidst the buzz of big-name companies, Otter.ai stood out with its innovative approach to voice recognition. The app uses ambient voice intelligence, meaning it works in the background, capturing conversations without interrupting users. This unique method sets it apart from competitors like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.
During a meeting at Fira Barcelona Hall 2, Sam Liang, co-founder of Otter.ai, demonstrated the app’s real-time transcription feature. As he spoke, the app transcribed his words with a slight delay—about 2-3 seconds. When his teammate Seamus McAteer joined the conversation, the software automatically identified who was speaking and adjusted accordingly.
Though not perfect—sometimes missing punctuation, misidentifying speakers, or misunderstanding words—the app is impressively accurate for free. It’s especially useful for quickly reviewing meetings, as it allows users to search through recorded content using keywords generated by machine learning.
“Our technology is completely different,†Liang explained. “We call it ‘Ambient Voice Intelligence’—it works in the background, helping people capture what they might otherwise miss.†He added that the brain only retains about 10-20% of what’s said in a meeting, making tools like Otter.ai essential for better recall and productivity.
One of the most useful features is the ability to share recordings. If a colleague couldn’t attend a meeting, they can receive the audio and transcript, allowing them to catch up easily. With Google account integration, the process becomes even smoother, especially for businesses already using Google Workspace.
The team behind Otter.ai has deep experience in tech. McAteer has over 20 years in mobile and data analytics, while other members come from Google, Facebook, Yahoo, and Nuance. Many are also alumni of top universities like MIT and Stanford.
Since 2016, the team has been developing the core technology. They’ve licensed their API to various partners, primarily for post-recording transcription. These partnerships help refine their algorithms, improving accuracy over time.
In early 2018, Otter.ai announced a partnership with Zoom, integrating their transcription service into video calls. Now, users can record and transcribe meetings seamlessly, powered by AISense technology.
With the release of a free real-time recording app, the company is entering a new phase. An advanced version is planned, offering extended features such as longer retention of meeting history. The free version currently stores meetings for 90 days, while the premium version will expand this capability.
“Being able to remember, search, and share your voice conversations is the next frontier of collaboration,†Liang said. “Otter empowers users to use AI in daily conversations, so they can focus on what they say instead of taking notes.â€
Available on Apple App Store and Google Play, the app is still evolving. While the iOS version offers more detailed features right now, the Android version is expected to catch up soon. With continuous improvements, Otter.ai is positioning itself as a powerful tool for modern communication.
Although it may not have the same hype as IBM Watson, which relies on supercomputers, Otter.ai has achieved remarkable results using just smartphones. Its low-key yet effective approach made it one of the standout innovations at the 2018 Mobile World Congress.
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